Ramadan: A free training opportunity

It has become clear to themajority of specialists in psychology and
behavioral experts that emotional intelligence)E.I.(, also known as
the emotional quotient )E.Q.(,is more important than academic
intelligence, also known as the intelligence quotient)I.Q.(.
This means that people who are in control of their emotions and are
able to curb their anger are distinguished in various fields of human
life and have greater opportunities to achieve success. Those who
cannot control their emotional lives or manage their emotions,
experience internal conflicts that undermine their ability to think
clearly and concentrate on work.
For this reason, there are numerous training courses that are
organized all over the world providing diverse strategies in the
development of emotional intelligence. As Muslims, we are blessed to
practice a mandatory training course every year in all parts of the
Islamic worldfree of charge in order tosharpen our emotional
intelligence in the most powerful way.
Training to delay gratification of the strongest biological urge in
human beings )i.e. hunger and thirst(, is considered the most
significant contribution to enhancing and developing one's emotional
intelligence. The importance of this training course lies in preparing
the individual to postpone his strongestbiological urges. Such
self-regulation is required to override the impulse to seek immediate
gratification of his desires that require a constant delay since
frustration is the main characteristic for most events in this life.
Indeed, )man does not attain all that his heart desires, for( the
winds donot blow as the ships wish. We cannot imaginethat one attains
everything he looks forward to. This leads to embracing frustration
which may sometimes beat the expense of one's mental health.
Therefore,training to cope with frustration )in our lives( helps in
building a balanced and cohesive character.
Fasting in Islam is either obligatory or recommended so as to serve as
an important factor in self-regulation and self-adaptation. It
inhibits pressures and helps cope with frustrations with commendable
flexibility and adaptability.
The other aspect of training with regards to fasting is related to
acquiring and developing empathy for others. Empathy )i.e. the ability
to understand what another goes through(, is one of the most important
criteria that distinguish a personality from being normal or abnormal.
Enduring hunger and thirst helps one to identify himself with all the
needy and suffering people and consequentlydrives him to extend a
helping hand to them. These commendable feelings of compassion and
empathy towards those who are less fortunate are enough to train an
individual to curb and wear down his ego and begin thinking of others
instead of thinking merely of himself. This undoubtedly
strengthensone's mental health and develops skills of emotional
intelligence.
Moreover, we should not overlook other benefits of fasting such as
controlling sexual desiresand anger management. A fasting person is
expected to control his anger and should respond to )what provokes( it
by saying, "OAllaah, I am fasting". Perhaps there is no psychological
skill that is more important than curbing rashness as it is the core
of self-control. Obliging oneself to delay gratifications and curb
rashness to achieve a desired goal is the essence of emotional
self-regulation.
Taking into consideration all that hasbeen mentioned, is thereany
better training course that can emulate Ramadan in providing training
for emotional intelligence?